Banana-crate.



No. 706,207. Patented Aug. 5, |902.

w. H. smson. BANANA CRATE.

{Appucatinn med Dc. 31, 1901.)

(Nu Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

k gllll/lly )Sw S, 2 A

Patented Aug. 5, |902.

w. H. SIMPSON.

BANANA CRATE.

(Application med Dec. s1, 190x.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

L... Ls s w lr s? 1 f f f ,f W@ www E WW1 .NN

N .w w N\ uw @Hw \\M y & h NQ .i n 1T M.. l,... H1.

M r v THE NOiRIS PETERS CD.. PHUTO-LITHO WSH|NGTOM D. E,

f .nrnNr OFFICE.

VILLIAM II. SIMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BANANA- CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,207, dated August 5, 1902.

Application lecl December' 31, 1901. Serial No. 87,949. (No model 10 @ZZ wwm t may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM; H. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at `Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Banana- Crate, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to banana-crates.

The object of the invention is to provide a crate for shipping bananas which in use will be thoroughly effective for shielding the bananas from injury due to rough handling or from the effects of cold.

A further object is to presentathoroughly efficient, cheap, durable, and easily constructed form of crate, the parts of which shall be so constructed and assembled as mutuall)T to brace each other and in which danger of collapse from superposed weight will be reduced to a minimum.

"With these and other objects in View, will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a banana-crate, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated two forms of embodiment of theinvention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit of the invention, and in the drawings- Figure l is arview in perspective of a banana-crate .constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of one of the crate-sections, showing more particularly the manner in which the packing is secured to the said section. Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section. Fig. et is a fragmentary detail view of a hinge for holding the crate-sections together. Fig. 5 is a perspective-view of another form of crate. Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section ot' the same. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of a form of hinge for holding the sections together.

Referring to the drawings, l designates generally the crate, comprising two sections hinged together and consisting of two twopart heads 2 and a body composed of slats 3, suitably secured to the heads. The heads when assembled are preferably octagonal in shape, although they may be of other polygonal forms, and each part of one of the heads is provided with a centrally-disposed semicircular recess, the two recesses when the parts of the head are assembled presenting an opening 4E, through which the stalk or stem of a bunch of bananas may protrude when the bunch is too long to be contained within the crate. From a standpoint ot' economy in manufacture it will generally be preferred to employ slats in the construction of the body; but it will be obvious that, if preferred, Solid boards may be employed provided with openings for purposes ot' ventilation or heavy pasteboard with or without perforations, or

wire-netting may in some instances be utilized, and as this will be obvious illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. To brace and bind the slats against spreading or separation from the heads or in case of breakage from becoming disconnected from the heads, reinforcing straps or bands 5 are cmployed, of which there may be any preferred number, these by preference being made of strap-i ron and held assembled with the heads by screws or nails 6 and with the straps intermediate of the lheads by rivets, nails, or screws 7. In order to reduce the number of parts to a minimum and also to cheapen the manufacture of the crate, the straps or bands are made to constitute hinges and fastoning means, the former being accomplished by providing one of the terminals of each of the bands of one section with a centrallydisposed tongue S and the opposing terminals of the bands of the other section with two tongues 9, riveting these tongues to the respective bands to present butts adapted for interengagement and then passing a pin 10 through the butts, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, thus presenting a strong and efficient hinge. The bands are caused to constitute fastening means by providing one terminal of a plurality of the bands of one section with a slot 11, through each of which is adapted to project a turn-button l2, pivotally connected with the terminals of the corresponding bands of the other section, by which simple arrange- IOO ment the two sections of the crate may be firmly held locked together in use. It will of course be understood that other forms of fastening devices may be employed, such as are commonly used in structures of this character, and as this will also be obvious detailed illustration thereof is thought to be unnecessary. It will be observed that the straps or bands are disposed on the outside of the slats, by which arrangement the slats and heads will be shielded from damage by being struck by hard objects while being handled 0r while in transit.

The means employed for protecting the bunches of bananas against injury when in- Y closed by the crate comprises a packing or support 13, consisting of burlap or other suitable textile. fabric, the edge of the packing being secured to the slats of the front of each section and to the edges of the head-sections, as shown at 14 and 15, respectively, the rear edge of the packing being undetached, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit placing between the packing and the slats of asuitable cushion of yieldable material-such as hay, straw, excelsior, or the like-the free edges of the packing overlapping each other, as shown at 16 in Fig. 3, thus to prevent the escape of the stuffing or cushion when the crate is being handled.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 there is shown a slightlymodiiied form ot' reinforcing-band, the same consisting of lengths of wire, single or twisted, as indicated at 17, and held assembled with the slats or sides by staples 18. The terminals of these wires at the rear of the crate are interlocked, as shown at 19 in Fig. 7, to present hinge members, which subserve the same function as the hinges exhibited in connection with the straps shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Instead, however, of making the front terminals ot' the bands constitute the fastening means, as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4, these are bent upon themselves and secured by staples 2O to the front Slat of each crate-section, and the sections are held assembled by ordinary hooks 2l, engaging keepers 22, these hooks and keepers being disposed on a side and at the ends of the crate. It will be understood, of course, that the bands shown in Fig. 5 may have their terminals formed into fastening means in the same manner as shown in connection with Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and as this will be obvious illustration thereof is omitted. With the exception of the arrangement ofthe reinforcing-bands the function of the crate shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is the same as that displayed in the iigures iirst described.

Instead of having the terminals of the reinforcing-bands shown in Figs. 5 and 6 interlooped or interlocked to present hinges the bands may continue around the sections, the flexibility of the wire permitting the sections to be opened and closed, thereby rendering unnecessary the employment of hinges. Further, instead of employing the fastening devices 21 and 22 for holding the sections assembled this may be accomplished by twisting the ends of the reinforcing bands together.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that while the crate of the present invention is exceedingly simple of construction and may be cheaply and readily manufactured it possesses all the requisites necessary to the presentation of a thoroughly efficient structure for the purpose designed and that by reason of the manner in which the reinforcing-bands are disposed and secured to the body of the crate, as well as to the heads thereof, it will be practically impossible for a slat to be removed for the purpose of gaining access to the interior of the crate, the structure presenting thereby a practically theft-proof crate.

By making the crate polygonal in crosssection it will facilitate handling and also the piling of the crates one upon another, the multiple fiat bearing-surfaces presented by the sides serving to brace and render the structure exceedingly rigid in character.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A banana-crate comprising two two-part polygonal heads, one of which is provided with a central orifice, sides connecting the ends, reinforcing-bands exteriorly embracing the sides intermediate of their ends and having their terminals formed into interengaging hinge members, a packing secured to the interior of each of the sides, a yielding cushion interposed between the packing and the sides, and means for holding the sides assembled.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. SIMPSON.

Witnesses:

WM. P. EWERING, A. J. KEPP.

IOS 

